Tag Archives: Management
Decisions are Made by Individuals
Let’s be clear. Decisions are made by people – by individuals. Decisions are not made by groups or committees… Continue reading
Margin Notes
…Another tool I have found is to review margin notes of managers, directors, and above. When available, if you are able to take a look at meeting agenda’s, presentation handouts, status reports, and the like you may notice something quite interesting. The handwriting which people place on these documents are far more than simple markings. The handwriting which in the margins is the individual’s personal take on specific items. In a similar way that handwriting analysts are able to understand a writer from their handwriting (based a direct connection from brain to pen to paper), margin notes are created in the same way… Continue reading
Managing at the Core
…This is also the area where truly great IT organizations separate themselves from their peers. Organizations which are able to articulate the problems to solve, the benefits and costs in doing so, and have develop a well though through approach in addressing the problem have a huge leg up. By doing so, the organization can avoid false starts and mis-direction, early involvement of stakeholders instead of late, and the projects have a better chance of running to conclusion. In general, this will provide a more efficient use of capital. Continue reading
Edge of IT
Several months ago, I was introduced to the concept of differentiating IT into “Core” and “Edge” functions. This very useful construct has significant implications to the way that you think about management and leadership of an IT department… Continue reading
Celebration of Shadow IT
All those of you who have participated in a Sarbanes-Oxley audit hold up your hand? Good. Now, how many of you have been involved in documenting the processes under scrutiny by the Act? I see fewer hands up. For those of you with your hands still up, do you notice something interesting in each of these processes? Thats’s right, there’s a healthy dose of technology inside these processes – and a healthy percentage of this was developed by people who don’t work within… Continue reading
IT Cost Management via Your Ecosystem
“Cut your costs by 15%, I’ll need your report on how you will do this by Friday.”
Ominous words, but words which are all too common these days. People are stretched pretty thin as it is and if your company is like most people, the work being done isn’t going away. How will you do this? Continue reading
24 Months
A recent Forrester study has shown that the average job term for a CIO is on the rise. I believe there is more to the story. Going with the assumption that both the employer and employee need to realize a value in what they receive in exchange for what they give there is an implied necessary balance and harmony required for a strong and long-lasting working relationship. Continue reading
Dark Matter
Ask anyone (astrophysicists excluded) what the universe is made of and they will point to the mountains, oceans, plants, buildings, and people around us. They would be correct – to a point. The reality is that these known and tangible items account for four percent (4%) of the universe. Ninety six percent (96%) is unknown – called Dark Matter. What we know is vastly over-shadowed by what we don’t know. Given how much we don’t know, it is quite likely that we will learn that we likely don’t know the 4% that well either. Continue reading
Top 10 Posts of 2009
The best audience is intelligent, well-educated, and a little drunk.
-Alben W. Barkley Continue reading
Hey CIO, How Are Your Legal Skills?
What at one time consisted of determining departmental headcount now looks at how to augment this with contractors, consultants, and outsourcing firms. While the workforce plan provides the overall guidance, contracts are where the rubber meets the road. This is where you precisely define the products and services required, and the terms and conditions which go along with the acquisition. Knowing how to negotiate these contracts and the obligations of the parties is a core skill in the delivery of Information Technology. Continue reading
